Austin Officials Cancel SXSW Festival Over Coronavirus Threat
City leaders in Austin officially cancel the annual SXSW music and tech festival due to growing coronavirus concerns. The decision comes as Texas reports 17 confirmed cases of the virus.
City officials officially cancel the SXSW festival in Austin amid growing fears over the spread of the coronavirus. The annual entertainment, music, and technology gathering faces this sudden shutdown as Texas reports 17 confirmed cases of the virus.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler expresses regret over the decision during a Friday press conference at City Hall. He notes that the event remains deeply tied to the city's identity and looks forward to hosting the festival again in the future.
This cancellation marks a major disruption for the global entertainment and technology industries, as thousands of artists, filmmakers, and tech professionals plan to attend the event each year. The move follows a wave of similar event shutdowns happening worldwide as communities attempt to slow the transmission of the illness.